According to the SDS, Tomc said the decision to stand had not been easy since she took the post of the president very seriously.

"I want to keep my feet firmly on the ground and not promise things I cannot fuflil. This is my style and I don't plan to change it," she said.

Tomc believes the citizens foremost want a reliable, dignified and determined president. "This much I can promise without hesitation," added the 51-year-old whose bid will officially be presented in Maribor on Monday.

The MEP for the SDS and EPP also served as MP for the SDS and as deputy speaker of parliament. In 2014 she was moreover the vice-president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

During Slovenia's presidency over the EU, Tomc was state secretary at the Labour, Family and Social Affairs Ministry. Before that she led the labour directorate at the same ministry and was also the director of the Slovenian Human Resources and Scholarship Fund.

The SDS had registered 12 candidate, with Tomc being mentioned frequently as the most likely pick.

The SDS's announcement more or less rounds up the list of candidates fielded by parliamentary parties.

The ruling Modern Centre Party (SMC) put forward Education, Science and Sport Minister Maja Makovec Brenčič, the opposition New Slovenia (NSi) its president Ljudmila Novak, while the coalition SocDems backed incumbent Borut Pahor.

The coalition Pensioners' Party will decided on a candidate or support to any of the existing candidates on Tuesday, while a decision is also still expected from the opposition Left.